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In the space of just 12 years (it opened in March 2000), The EDF Energy London Eye has become a symbol of London innovation and cities around the world have raced to replicate its success. Taking seven years to create, the Millennium Wheel as it was known when it opened, was designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield, a husband and wife architectural team and at 135 metres, is one of the world’s tallest observation wheels. It is now the UK’s most popular visitor attraction with over 3.75 million customers a year.

Here are five fast facts about one of my all time favourite London attractions:

You can see around 40 kms (25 miles) from the top on a clear day – sometimes even as far as Windsor Castle.

There are 800 passengers per revolution, equivalent to 11 London red double decker busses.

A rotation takes around 30 minutes.

The weight of the wheel and capsules is 2,100 tonnes or as much as 1,272 London black cabs.

Kate Moss is the UK celebrity who holds the record for return visits on some 25 occasions with Jessica Alba being the international record holder at 31!